Plum tree (Red Noble)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a plum tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, vigorous, and medium productive tree, which requires cross pollinization. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in late May, with first picking on May 26th, 1990, and is uniformly medium in size, clingstone in type, deep red to purplish red in skin color, attractive in shape, deliciously sweet in flavor, and exceptionally firm in texture, resulting in excellent quality for keeping and shipping. The variety was developed as an open pollinated seedling of an unnamed seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of plum tree, which has beendenominated varietally as "Red Noble". Each year we grow a large numberof seeds from selected seed parents that have been hybridized byselected pollen parents. We also grow a large number of seeds fromselected seed parents that were open pollinated by unknown pollensources. The present variety was developed by us in 1984, and theresulting seedling was planted in a cultivated area of our experimentalorchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). Specifically, this seedling was originated by growingan open pollinated seed of an unnamed seedling. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of plum tree, we asexually reproducedit by budding and grafting, and such reproduction of plant and fruitcharacteristics were true to the original plant in all respects.

The present variety is most similar to Red Beaut (U.S. Plant Pat. No.2,539) by being self-sterile and by producing fruit that is early inmaturing and medium in size, but is distinguished therefrom and animprovement thereon by producing fruit that is darker purplish red incolor, that is clingstone rather than freestone, that is firmer intexture, and that is substantially better in flavor. The improvement inflavor of the present variety enables fruit picked immaturely to stilltaste very good, and the improvement in firmness allows the grower theoption of shipping a tree ripened product to the market.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form; one fruitdivided transversely to its axial diameter to reveal the flesh, stone,and stone cavity; and several leaves, all typical of the subjectvariety.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of plum tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing at the experimentalorchard of the inventors near Le Grand, Merced County (San JoaquinValley), Calif., and was developed at the state of hard eating ripe onMay 28, 1990. All major color code designations are by reference to theInter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common colornames are also used occasionally.

TREE

Size: Medium.

Vigor: Vigorous.

Growth: Upright and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Half hardy.

Production: Medium productivity.

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Shaggy.

Bark color.--Brownish gray [64. brGy].

Lenticels.--Numerous. Color: Brownish gray [64. brGy]. Size: 1/16" to1/4" [1.6-6.4 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Smooth.

Color.--1st year wood topside: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr]. 1styear wood underside: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG]. Older wood: Darkyellowish brown [78. d.yBr].

Lenticels.--Numerous, very small.

Leaves:

Size.--Medium. Average length: 31/2" [88.9 mm.]. Average width: 17/8"[47.6 mm.].

Thickness.--Medium.

Form.--Obovate.

Apex.--Mucronate.

Base.--Acute.

Surface.--Slightly rugose.

Color.--Dorsal surface: Dark olive green [126. d.OlG]. Ventral surface:Grayish yellow green [122. gy.YG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average length: 7/16" [11.1 mm.]. Average thickness: 1/16"[1.6 mm.]. Dorsal color: Light grayish red [18. l.gy.R]. Ventral color:Grayish yellow green [122. gy.YG].

Stipules.--Numerous. Average length: 3/16" [4.8 mm.].

Glands.--Numbers: Mostly 2 per leaf. Position: Mostly alternatelypositioned on petiole very close to base of blade. Size: Small. Form:Globose. Color: Grayish red [19. gy.R].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Half hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--Medium.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Early as compared with other varieties.

Size.--Medium.

Color.--White [263. White].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Hard but eating ripe, May 28, 1990.

Date of first picking: May 26, 1990.

Date of last picking: Jun. 4, 1990.

Size: Uniform, medium.

Average diameter axially.--21/8" [54.0 mm].

Average traversely in suture plane.--21/8" [54.0 mm].

Form: Uniform, slightly unsymmetrical, globose to slightly obovoid.

Longitudinal section form.--Slightly obovate.

Transverse section through diameter.--Round.

Suture: A sharp crack near the base becoming an inconspicuous shallowline discontinuing at the apex, with a slight depression beyond thepistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded with a slight hump along one side of suture.

Lips: Lipped only near the base.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, elongated in the suture plane, suture showingon one side only.

Base: Truncate, slightly cuneate.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: An inconspicuous dot at the end of the suture line, notnecessarily symmetrical with respect to the apex.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average width.--3/32" [2.4 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Thin.

Texture.--Medium.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed as of yet.

Color.--Very dark purplish red [260. v.d.pR] over a deep red [13. deepR] background toward the shoulders with some strong orange yellow [68.s.OY] freckling more toward the apex.

Flesh:

Color.--Light yellow [86. l.Y] to the stone.

Amygdalin.--Moderate.

Juice.--Abundant, rich.

Texture.--Very firm, tough, crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine, tender.

Ripens.--Almost evenly, but slightly earlier at the apex.

Flavor.--Very sweet with medium acidity.

Aroma.--Distinct.

Eating quality.--Outstanding, even if picked prematurely.

STONE

Type: Clingstone.

Form: Oval.

Base: Slightly oblique.

Apex: Acute.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Rugose, with a single groove on each side of the dorsal fin.

Color: Light orange yellow [70. l.OY].

Average width: 5/8" 15.9 mm.].

Average length: 13/16" [20.6 mm.].

Average thickness: 3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average pit wall thickness: 1/16" [1.6 mm.].

Tendency to split: Very slight.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval to conic.

Taste.--Bitter.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average length.--7/16" [11.11 mm.].

Pellicle color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].

Amygdalin: Abundant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Excellent.

Shipping quality: Excellent.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of plum tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of plum tree, substantially asillustrated and described, which most nearly resembles Red Beaut (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,539) by being self-sterile and by producing fruit thatis early in maturing and medium in size, but is distinguished therefromand an improvement thereon by producing fruit that is darker purplishred in color, that is clingstone rather than freestone in type, that isfirmer in texture, and that is substantially better in flavor.